Collection Description

The Riley County Genealogical Society Library has pre-Civil War records that are excellent for Kansas. Early settlers are documented by obituaries, family folders, and some good indexes.[3]

The RCGS Library has 1175 genealogies especially for Riley County, county-city-town-church and other local histories, computer and microfilm censuses including the KS agricultural schedules, and 1855 territorial census, county probate records 1856-1939, newspaper abstracts for Riley and surrounding counties, and material for nearly all Kansas counties, most states, and many foreign countries.[4]

RCGS members also hold meetings, classes, and other events, make research suggestions, maintain surname and cemetery lists, and serve at the Manhattan Public Library.[1]

Alternate Repositories

If you cannot visit or find a source at the Riley County Genealogical Society Library, a similar source may be available at one of the following.

Kansas Historical Society, Topeka, clearly the best place to start researching Kansas ancestors including newspapers, county records, biographies, genealogies, land records, and railroads.[12] Statewide births and deaths prior to 1894; City of Topeka births and deaths 1885-1912.[13]

Kansas State Library, Topeka, largest book library in Kansas with county histories, ethnic sources, guides, inventories, and family genealogies.</ref> This is a main depository of historical documents about Kansas residents.

University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library, Lawrence, manuscripts, photographs, maps, histories, newspapers, periodicals, film and videotapes that document the "Kansas Experience" of pioneers, railroads, and American Indians.</ref> A depository for publications of Kansas and Douglas County.